A woman from Amesbury has shared the story of her great grandfather who made the ultimate sacrifice for his country.

Samantha Lewis, 45, revealed military links on both sides of the family tree, starting with her father’s grandfather who fought during World War One and died at the age of 30. 

William O’Reilly enlisted in February 1915 and fought in the Queen's Royal West Surrey Regiment.

He died in the Battle of Loos on September 25 that year. 

The mum of one said: “Unfortunately he was officially listed as missing, presumed dead, so nobody found his body. 

“But apparently he is actually registered on the Loos memorial which is on the French Belgium border.”

Salisbury Journal: This World War One Memorial Plaque was given to William O'Reilly's next of kin to commemorate his sacrifice. This World War One Memorial Plaque was given to William O'Reilly's next of kin to commemorate his sacrifice.

William left behind his wife and five children, four daughters and one son.

Samantha’s grandmother, Winifred, was eight years old when he died, her four other siblings were also under the age of 10. 

A postcard of him was sent to his family just after he went away, and the family had his image transposed onto a photograph taken in 1916. 

Salisbury Journal: William O'Reilly left behind his wife and five children, four daughters aged ten, eight, seven, and four as well as a son aged five. William O'Reilly left behind his wife and five children, four daughters aged ten, eight, seven, and four as well as a son aged five.

Winifred’s husband was a fireman in Portsmouth Docks during World War Two, and their son, Stuart Appleby, now 82, is Samantha’s father.

Samantha, mum to an 11-year-old, said: “I’m lucky my dad is the family historian, he knows everything about everybody."

Her dad Stuart added: "I just think it is important to know your history. 

"I very much regret that I did not research mine before my parents both passed away." 

Samantha's other great grandfather, Albert Appleby, was in the Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry and he was a prisoner of war during WW1. 

A telegraph shows that Albert was listed as missing in March 22, 1918 near St Quentin but it was updated in June 13, 1918 saying he had been found. 

On the other side of the family, Samantha’s maternal grandfather was too young to go to war, but he worked for timber company Penton Saw Mills near Andover and looked after Italian prisoners of war in the New Forest.

Samantha’s husband also has a military connections in his family as his father and grandfather were in the services and his paternal grandmother was a codebreaker at Bletchley park during WW2.

For Remebrance Day Samantha added: "Ask your family about your history as you never know when it will be too late." 

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